John Soper
Grand Champion
Winter Season ’11

The Winter Season ’11 Grand Championship Tournament was held on Saturday, April 16th, at Famous Pub. There were 289 players qualified for the tournament that is the highlight of an entire APC season. Players competed for prizes including a $550 entry into a World Series of Poker or World Poker Tour Tournament in Tunica or Biloxi. John Soper emerged victorious and beat a field of 140 total players!

John Soper was born in El Paso, Texas and moved to Atlanta about 15 years ago. John has lived in many different areas of the U.S., but feels that being from Texas gives him an affinity for playing Texas Hold’em.

Who is your favorite poker player, and why?
I don’t have a clear favorite among the professional players. I like to watch them all and they all have something to bring to the game. However, if you base it on looks, then I’d have to say Jennifer Tilly.

Who has influenced your play the most?
Kerm King has influenced my play the most as he has a “no fear” factor that I wish I could adopt.

What is your advice for new players?
Learn from everyone at the table and don’t be afraid. If you’ve never played a live event before then sit and watch. If you’ve played online before, then play the same way, at least initially…then learn that live play is different.

What are your goals in the APC?
I feel that the APC is a training camp. Especially after playing at the Wooden Nickel. At the Nickel you are inundated with good and not so good players and it is a challenge. Like a poker boot camp. My goals are to take this hobby and actually go to casinos and play for real money, and I would love to represent the APC in the World Series of Poker. With the new membership opportunities coming up it looks like the APC is now promoting and recognizing that they have some really good poker players and with the membership we can take this to the top!

How did it feel to win the Grand Championship?
Numb. Numb. I knew that when I would go back to the Wooden Nickel that players would look at me differently. Many players congratulated me but I feel the need to win another one or be more consistent in my play to be acknowledged by everyone. I just started playing Texas Hold’em in February, 2010. I feel that so many people that I play against are so much better than me. I try to learn from everyone.

I would like to put this challenge out. I think that you need to play the Nickel because it is so challenging and any APC player needs to go to the Nickel and if you think you are good play there. If you can win at the Nickel you will recognize that you are good.

I walked into the Nickel on February 9, 2010 to watch the Super Bowl and all these tables were set up. I approached Maci, and she said, “It is free poker and Texas Hold’em and why don’t you play?” I played and didn’t see one minute of the Super Bowl. I think I came in 18th my first night. I want to thank all the ambassadors for the APC including the Tournament Directors and the dealers, I like the new APC approach, and the fact the APC is not sitting around thinking they have something but keep trying to improve their product and I really appreciates that.

John Soper continues to work at improving his game. John looks forward to putting his poker skills to work when he does play in a casino. John has definitely earned his place in the APC Hall of Fame!

Photos of the Grand Championship

To qualify for this tournament you need to be:

• Top 50 in Overall Points for Summer Season ’11 (April 1st – July 31st)
• Top 10 in Any Individual Venue Points Race For The Season
• Win a Season Venue Championship Tournament
• Win a Monthly Points Tournament

The projected date for the tournament is Saturday, August 13th.

The venues listed below will qualify for the Grand Championship provided they play 8 times:

Allstar Billiards/Monday –
Allstar Billiards/Thursday –
Allstar Billiards/Saturday –
American Ale House/Tuesday –
American Ale House/Friday –
American Ale House/Saturday –
American Ale House/Sunday –
Arizona Pub –
Atmosphere Monday –
Atmosphere Wednesday –
Atmosphere Saturday –
Beef ‘O’ Bradys/Monday –
Bench Warmers –
Eastside Station/Tuesday –
Eastside Station/Thursday –
Eastside Station/Sunday –
Famous Pub –
Friends Sports Bar & Grill/Tuesday –
Friends Sports Bar & Grill/Thursday –
Jeffreys Braselton –
Loco’s Grill & Pub/Tuesday –
Loco’s Grill & Pub/Thursday –
McCray’s Tavern –
Rock House –
SoCo/Monday –
SoCo/Tuesday Ring Game –
SoCo/Wednesday –
SoCo/Friday –
SoCo/Saturday –
Sportsline –
Sportsline/Marietta –
Stone Creek Tavern/Wednesday –
Stone Creek Tavern/Friday –
The Point Bar & Grill –
Tilted Kilt –
Tin Roof Cantina –
Wooden Nickel/Thursday –
Wooden Nickel –
Zuffy’s Place –

Check the forum for complete LIST OF QUALIFYING!

CURRENT LIST OF QUALIFYING includes the Top 50 in Points for the Season, and the Top 10 at all venues that played, but only the above listed venues are eligible.

Monthly Points Tournament Winners:
April ’11 – Rachel Nowell
May ’11 – Train
June ’11 – Louis Melnick
July ’11 – TBD

PRIZES:

• The Grand Champion winner will receive a $550 WSOP or WPT Seat in Tunica plus $150 for travel. In addition to this they will receive the coveted custom rectangular Atlanta Poker Club engraved card guard, APC gear, entry into the Yearly Championship Tournament, as well as a listing in the APC Hall of Fame.
• The runner up or 2^nd place player will receive $150 in Gift Cards plus choice of APC Gear.
• 3rd place will receive $50 in Gift Cards plus choice of APC Gear.
• 4^th through 10^th place finishers will receive choice of APC Gear.

You may earn BONUS CHIPS in the Season Grand Championship on the following scale:

• 1^st in overall points will receive 1500 Bonus Chips.
• 2^nd will receive 1000 Bonus Chips.
• 3^rd through 10^th will receive 500 Bonus Chips.
• Tournament Structure: This will be an antes style tournament using the following blinds structure.

Good Luck Everyone!!!

Friends Sports Bar Information
Directions to Friends in Dacula

The qualifications for the prestigious AllStars Tournament are:

• 1st or 2nd in points at any venue at the end of the season, Sunday, July 31st.
• The venue must play a minimum of 8 events to qualify. *effective April 1st 2011

The venues listed below will qualify for AllStars provided they play 8 times:

Allstar Billiards/Monday –
Allstar Billiards/Thursday –
Allstar Billiards/Saturday –
American Ale House/Tuesday –
American Ale House/Friday –
American Ale House/Saturday –
American Ale House/Sunday –
Arizona Pub –
Atmosphere Monday –
Atmosphere Wednesday –
Atmosphere Saturday –
Beef ‘O’ Bradys/Monday –
Bench Warmers –
Eastside Station/Tuesday –
Eastside Station/Thursday –
Eastside Station/Sunday –
Famous Pub –
Friends Sports Bar & Grill/Tuesday –
Friends Sports Bar & Grill/Thursday –
Jeffreys Braselton –
Loco’s Grill & Pub/Tuesday –
Loco’s Grill & Pub/Thursday –
McCray’s Tavern –
Rock House –
SoCo/Monday –
SoCo/Tuesday Ring Game –
SoCo/Wednesday –
SoCo/Friday –
SoCo/Saturday –
Sportsline –
Sportsline/Marietta –
Stone Creek Tavern/Wednesday –
Stone Creek Tavern/Friday –
The Point Bar & Grill –
Tilted Kilt –
Tin Roof Cantina –
Wooden Nickel/Thursday –
Wooden Nickel –
Zuffy’s Place –

Prizes to be won:

• 1st Place wins $250 + Custom Silver Card Guard + AllStars Trophy + Seat in Yearly
  and entry into the APC Hall of Fame
• 2nd Place wins $150
• 3rd Place wins $100
• The Final Table wins APC Gear
• All qualifiers win a custom APC AllStars Chip

Here is the current list of qualifiers, but only the above venues are eligible to play in the AllStar Tournament!

Tommy Tran
Points Leader
Most Wins In One Season
Winter Season ’11

Tommy Tran has played with the Atlanta Poker Club since Red Carpet Lanes in Fall Season ’08. In Winter Season ’11, Tommy surpassed the previous record held by Daniel Petty of 17 wins in one season by getting a total of 20 wins! That gave him the largest number of wins by any player in any season of the APC. Tommy has won a total of 39 tournaments. He was Points Leader in Winter Season ’11 with an amazing 13622.38 in points!

From Santa Jose, CA, Tommy moved to Atlanta in 1997. He wanted to learn hold’em so he played with his cousins and then online. Tommy played occasionally with the APC, and his first full season to play was Winter Season ’11.

How many times a week did you play in Winter Season ’11?
The very first month of the season I was running good, and then I set the goal to make 10,000 points, and get 20 wins, and beat the current record, and I didn’t want to stop until I achieved it. So I played 10 to 12 tournaments a week. At least one a day and two to three times on Saturday and Sunday.

Players want to know what is your winning strategy?
The most important thing is your attitude. Attitude is everything! If you don’t go in expecting to win you will not win. Set a goal and expect to achieve it. If I place 7th in a game, I will take apart the game I played and what I did wrong and how to improve it to be better and learn from my mistakes, and next time finish higher. I pay close attention to detail and make mental notes about the players on how they play, and what hands they will play, and how they react…and how to win the next time against them.

How has your play changed when you started playing seriously?
It changed dramatically. I play a wider range of hands. My playing style is different. I play in a lot of hands. Some times I’m in a hand just to play the player. I had to learn the dynamic to tournament poker and to build chip stack and chip stack management, and to control tilt and maintain a good attitude at the table.

Also, I learned there is a final table dynamic. In Winter Season ’11, I played a total of 113 tournaments. Out of those tournaments, I made the final table 94 times. Playing in so many final tables is when I learned the dynamics and how the play is totally different and you have to switch gears. The playing style is different and is very crucial for you as each position eliminated you then climb higher, which is of course the goal. I changed my betting style in a number of ways including leading out when I have the nuts. I was involved in so many hands I ended up getting paid off.

Any advice to new players?
Be open and willing to learn and to improve your game. You can play five or six years and not learn or improve, so you need to learn and take criticism constructively. Be open and be willing to learn and talk to players and see where there is room for improvement and what works and what doesn’t work.

Has any major player influenced your play?
I don’t really watch professional poker. I have seen Daniel Negreanu and Tony G, so
Daniel Negreanu because of his wide range of hands and ability to put players on a hand, and he plays the player and he does not necessarily have the best hand all the time. Tony G, because he puts a lots of pressure on players and tests their abilities to play hands and he puts other players to the test and is agressive. I’ve asked Tournament Director Travis Hart how he might have played my hand differently, and being willing to learn is how to win the games. Travis taught me to play to win.

Do you have a favorite hand?
My all time favorite hand is 9, 10 suited. I love pocket pairs and any pocket pair is fun to play. Low suited connectors can really pay off if they hit.

How did it feel to have the most wins of any player in any season?
Very accomplished. Very, very excited and relieved that I accomplished the goal I set in the beginning of the season. I learned from my mistakes and improved my game which enabled me to win tournaments.

What do you think when players say it is just free poker and doesn’t matter?
Attitude thing…I personally think it is an excuse for bad play. It does matter and just because it is free you are learning from it to take to a money game. How are you going to go to a real casino and play well unless you have learned by trying to play good poker? You can apply what you have learned, whether free or not, and apply it to the WSOP or other cash games.

Anything else you want to share?
I’ve played with several different clubs in Atlanta, but the APC is the best club to play with as it has a better poker game. It is more structured. There are players that will help you learn if you just ask. Go with a positive attitude and maintain that good attitude. A bad beat from a bad player doesn’t mean that later on you won’t be able to win and get your chips back from that player.

What goals have you set for yourself this season?
No particular goals but mainly want to go out and put everything learned to the test and see if I can continue to do well. I want to be a strong and solid player.

Winter Season ’11 taught me a life lesson that I can set a goal and achieve my goal if I put my heart out to do it. I always hold my head up whether a good night or a bad night…good game or bad game and not give up.

Tommy Tran is in the Atlanta Poker Club Hall of Fame for the most wins in any season and also for leading in points. Congratulations, Tommy!

Tommy took the knowledge he learned playing free poker to the best of his ability with the Atlanta Poker Club, and went to his first casino in Florida to play in a tournament. He won!

YEARLY CHAMPIONSHIP
Three Seasons of Winners

Arnie Ritchie
Yearly Champion
2010 – 2011

Arnie Ritchie has played with the Atlanta Poker Club since Summer Season ’08. He currently lives in Raleigh, NC, and the commute is now too long for him to play often with the APC. Arnie calls the Yearly Championship his “last hurrah!” He wanted to see the players and he wanted to win. As Arnie says, “winning any tournament is an incredible combination of luck and skill. You have to tap dance through so many mine fields just to get to the final table.”

We interviewed Arnie to get his perspectives and to learn more about the man who is always a gentleman at the table.

Who is your favorite poker player, and why?
Phil Gordon…because of his philosophical approach to the game. To me, Phil Gordon looks at poker as if it was a Zen Cohen and then tries to analyze the meaning behind what someone does. Looking at poker that way allows the potential to try and understand what someone else is actually thinking.

Who has influenced your play the most?
Dan Herrington…because of his practical mathematical method of evaluating hand odds and pot odds.

How does APC tournament play differ from tournament play in a casino?
There is always a number of players at an APC game who look at this as simply ‘free poker’ and don’t really care whether they shove all their chips into the middle of the table or not, and that rarely happens in a casino tournament. But in the APC when I play against the serious players, there is very little difference in playing against them and playing a casino tournament.

What is your advice for new players?
Read a lot…Phil Gordon and Dan Harrington.

What have been your goals in the APC?
My goals have been to have a lot of fun, to make new and wonderful friends, and to improve my poker game.

How did it feel to win the Yearly?
A really emotional win for me. Because I’ve moved out of state it is now almost impossible for me to play with the APC on a regular basis, so I knew this was going to be my last opportunity to qualify for the Yearly. To try and do well and try to go deep was really important to me. I was almost out of the tournament in the fifth hand. Greg Ward had pocket Aces and raised in early position with about five callers. That meant that I had to call with my fantastic 3, 5 off suit. The flop came A, K, 5…Greg raised and was called, which meant I had to fold. The turn was a 5, and the river was a 3. Had I been in the hand I would have been gone because Greg’s full house would have beat mine. I don’t care how good or bad a player you think you are, the hand of fate rules.

Arnie says, “I have met more wonderful people, made more friends, and had more good times with the APC in the last two years than in any two year period in my life. I am truly grateful to have had the honor and pleasure of meeting and playing poker with so many wonderful people!”

Arnie Ritchie definitely earned the title of Champion! Arnie has earned a place in the APC Hall of Fame, and in the hearts of the players who know him!

Photos of the Yearly Championship

Steve Grier
All Star Champion
Winter Season ’11

The Winter Season ’11 All Star Tournament was held on Saturday, March 19th, at EastSide Station in Snellville. There were 73 players qualified to play and this is considered the most prestigious of the Atlanta Poker Club tournaments. Players competed for prizes including $250, Custom Silver Card Guard, All Star Trophy, and entry into the Yearly Championship and the Grand Championship, and 43 players competed.

Steve Grier is an Atlanta native. He has played with the Atlanta Poker Club since March, 2010. Steve hadn’t played Texas Hold’em before he joined us. Steve said he started taking his game seriously in this Winter Season ’11.

Who is your favorite poker player, and why?
Phil Ivey. I like the way he conducts himself at the poker table. He rarely shows emotion. He’s always cool. Just can’t put him on a hand. I admire his game.

Who has influenced your play the most?
A lot of people, and most everybody in the APC. Andrew Moore taught me the game.

What is your advice for new players?
A beginner should listen to the more experienced players. The more experienced players bring you along. You learn a lot by watching their play. We can’t all be super agressive. We can’t all be a tight player. Most importantly, stay true to yourself and what kind of poker player you really are.

What are your goals in the APC?
It would be great to win the Grand Championship or the Yearly. I want to at least make the final table in the Grand Championship this year as I made it to the last three tables last year.

How did it feel to win the All Star Tournament?
It didn’t really sink in until I got home and then I felt great. Realized what an accomplishment it was. My hope is to repeat it one day.

Steve has great focus at the table and experiments every time he plays to try and take his game to the next level. He tries to play the top ten hands and to have patience. He only wants to play hands that he can invest in. Steve tries to avoid getting caught up in hands that get him into trouble and he likes to avoid Ace rag. Steve says his natural game is a little more tight.

With his determination, his focus, his ability to adjust his game, that’s what made Steve Grier the All Star Champion!

• Accumulate 2000 points on the Overall Leaderboard by Monday, February 28th.
• Be the Points Leader at any one qualified venue by Monday, February 28th.
  (A venue qualifies for All Stars if it plays 6 times)
• Be the Winner of the December, January or February $500 Monthly Tournament.

There are a total of

                                73                                                         PLAYERS!                                                                                                                                  

1. Abhay Chakole
2. Adam Cira
3. Aimee Kargen
4. Albert Putureanu
5. Alex Britman
6. Andrew Nguyen
7. Anthony Andrews
8. Ashley Alford
9. Ben Taylor
10. Bill Sirinek
11. Bill Stanley
12. Black Pettway
13. Blake Patterson
14. Brian Gaul
15. Bruce Yates
16. Chris Byers
17. Chris Lozynsky
18. Christopher Pearson
19. Chuck Sheran
20. CT Carroll
21. Curtis Fay
22. Danny Pelegrin
23. David Tompkins
24. David Vining
25. Debo
26. Derrick Bozeman
27. Devin Lawson
28. Drew Prichard
29. Eugene Peabody
30. Gary Griffin, Jr.
31. Greg Mackey
32. Holly Stewart
33. Jane Grider
34. Janet Mizoguchi
35. Jason Spry
36. Jeanetta Wells
37. Jeff Miller
38. Jennifer Wilhite
39. Jeremy Sanders
40. Jim Johnson
41. Jim Riles
42. Joe Avino
43. Johnie Teague
44. JR Mayhew
45. Karen Brooks
46. Karen Buerki
47. Kendall Dean
48. Kevin Ilias
49. Kevin Zook
50. Keyonna Burks
51. Khaleel Cannon
52. Kim Smith
53. Laura Davidson
54. Marcos Rodriguez, Jr.
55. Michael Van Coney
56. Mike Green
57. Mike Grove
58. Oska Dixon
59. Rachel Nowell
60. Randy Money
61. Randy Orr
62. Russell Ramuten
63. Ryan Dancey
64. Sallie Avino
65. Scott Bell
66. Sonya Miller
67. Sorin Mohorea
68. Stephen Grier
69. Todd Powers
70. Tommy Tran
71. Train
72. Vikki Hart
73. Wendy Davidson

The venues listed below qualified for All Stars as they played 6 times, and listed below is the Points Leader at each venue on February 28th:

Allstar Billiards/Monday – Tommy Tran
Allstar Billiards/Thursday – Jane Grider
Allstar Billiards/Saturday – Janet Mizoguchi
American Ale House/Tuesday – Eugene Peabody
American Ale House/Friday – Blake Patterson
American Ale House/Saturday – Rachel Nowell
American Ale House/Sunday – Mike Grove
APC Online HU – Jason Spry
APC Online – Eugene Peabody
Arizona Pub – Christopher Pearson
Atmosphere Monday – Michael Van Coney
Atmosphere Wednesday – Chuck Sheran
Barlow’s Bar & Grill – Abhay Chakole
Barlow’s Bar & Grill/Sunday – Devin Lawson
Bench Warmers – Bill Stanley
Cheyenne Grille/Friday – Andrew Nguyen
Eastside Station/Tuesday – Greg Mackey
Eastside Station/Thursday – Greg Mackey
Eastside Station/Sunday – Chris Lozynsky
Famous Pub – Holly Stewart
Friends Sports Bar & Grill/Tuesday – Mike Grove
Friends Sports Bar & Grill/Thursday – Danny Pelegrin
Jeffreys Braselton – Brian Gaul
Johnnys Hideaway – Holly Stewart
Loco’s Grill & Pub/Tuesday – Johnie Teague
Loco’s Grill & Pub/Thursday – CT Carroll
McCray’s Tavern – Kevin Ilias
Mikes Down Under – Kendall Dean
SoCo/Monday – Jim Riles
SoCo/Tuesday Ring Game – David Vining
SoCo/Wednesday – Ryan Dancey
SoCo/Friday – Sallie Avino
SoCo/Saturday – Tommy Tran
Sportsline – Kevin Ilias
Sportsline/Marietta – Khaleel Cannon
Square Pub – Black Pettway
Stone Creek Tavern/Wednesday – Tommy Tran
Stone Creek Tavern/Friday– Randy Money
The Point Bar & Grill – Debo
Tilted Kilt – Jeremy Sanders
Tin Roof Cantina – Sonya Miller
Wooden Nickel/Thursday – Joe Avino
Wooden Nickel – Abhay Chakole
Zuffy’s Place – Laura Davidson

Qualifiers from the August, September and October Points Tournaments:
December Tournament Winner: JR Mayhew
January Tournament Winner: Stephen Grier
February Tournament Winner: Karen Brooks

PRIZES TO BE WON!

David Herbert
Grand Champion
Fall Season ’10

The Fall Season ’10 Grand Championship Tournament was held on Saturday, December 18th, at AllStar Billiards. There were 302 players qualified for the tournament that is the highlight of an entire APC season. Players competed for prizes including a $550 entry into a World Series of Poker or World Poker Tour Tournament in Tunica or Biloxi. David Herbert emerged victorious and beat a field of 157 total players!

David Herbert lives in Atlanta with his wife Jessica. He is originally from Georgia. David started playing Texas Hold’em when he needed something to pass the time while he was drinking. David started playing seriously a year ago. Even though he loves to play Texas Hold’em and enjoys playing HORSE, his favorite game is Pot Limit Omaha.

Who is your favorite poker player, and why?
Phil Ivey because of his table image and Daniel Negreanu because of his reads and wide range of hands.

Who has influenced your play the most?
Since August, my game has been progressing. I realized if you want to get better you need to discuss poker in general and in particular strategies. Started talking to Dusin Sherer, Bill Murphy and Patrick Beasley.

How does APC tournament play differ from tournament play in a casino?
I’ve just played Sit and Goes in a casino. I noticed at the GC when antes came into play the players didn’t understand how much money was in the pot because they weren’t used to taking the antes into consideration. At casinos, players are aware and it is not as easy to steal pots. I think the APC should have more games with antes so players can get familiar with the structure.

What is your advice for new players?
Learn position. I think it is the most important thing. Don’t fall in love with your hand, and don’t fall in love with Ace rag. Most players at the APC are nice and open to talk about poker, and that helps out your game a lot.

What are your goals in the APC?
Just accomplished one of them. I would like to make the final table of the yearly. In tournaments you can play your best and still not win so making the final table to me would be an accomplishment

How did it feel to win the Grand Championship?
It felt good. It really didn’t hit me until I got home. Made me want to celebrate and drink beer. It felt like a good accomplishment to win against the good players at the APC. However, it is a grind!

David Herbert definitely earned the title of Grand Champion! David has earned a place in the APC Hall of Fame, and entry into the Yearly Championship Tournament!

Photos of the Grand Championship

If you are in the Top 10 at any qualified venue, you are eligible to play in the Venue Championship, and if you win, the Silver Coin is yours.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE WINNERS!

For Fall Season ’10, we have the following Silver Coin Winners:

VENUE CHAMPIONS
Allstar Billiards – KAREN BROOKS
American Ale House – JONATHAN JACKSON
APC Online HU – BRANDT WILKERSON
APC Online – WENDY BLUMENTHAL
Arizona Pub – ANDREW MOORE
Atmosphere – DANIEL RIVERA
Barlow’s Bar & Grill – ERIC PRICE
Bench Warmers – LOUIS MELNICK
Benefields/Sportsline South – JACKIE HERNDON
Cheyenne Grille – SCOTT BENNETT
Eastside Station – MICHAEL TURPEAU, JR.
Famous Pub – BEN TAYLOR
Friend’s Sports Bar & Grill – MIKE GROVE
Jeffreys Braselton – AARON MCDONALD
Jeffreys/Twisted Tavern – JR MAYHEW
Johnnys Hideaway – HOLLY STEWART
Loco’s Grill & Pub – JAKE CONKLIN
McCray’s Tavern – ARNIE RITCHIE
Mikes Down Under – KENDALL DEAN
SoCo – STEVE MORGAN
Sportsline – KIRK CHIN
Sportsline/Marietta – VERNON CHANEY
Stone Creek Tavern – DANNY PELEGRIN
Tilted Kilt – SCOTT DENHAM
Tin Roof Cantina – MARK DAWSON
Wooden Nickel – KEYONNA BURKS

VENUE POINTS LEADERS
Allstar Billiards/Monday – BROOKE PHILLIPS
Allstar Billiards/Thursday – BUTCH BOOK
Allstar Billiards/Saturday – LEE BRYAN
Allstar Billiards/Sunday – CLAY CRAIG
American Ale House/Friday – DANIEL PETTY
American Ale House/Saturday – DANIEL PETTY
American Ale House/Sunday – DAVE CIAVARRO
APC Online HU – KEVIN NEGRI
APC Online – KINGANYTHING999
Arizona Pub – CONDO
Atmosphere Monday – MICHAEL VAN CONEY
Atmosphere Wednesday – CHRIS CASH
Barlow’s Bar & Grill/Saturday – ERIC PRICE
Bench Warmers – RAY CHANG
Benefields/Sportsline South/Monday – JOHN SCOTT
Benefield’s/Sportsline South/Thursday – LESTER
Cheyenne Grille/Wednesday – BILL SIRINEK
Cheyenne Grille/Friday – STEPHANIE FARROW
Eastside Station/Tuesday – GREG MACKEY
Eastside Station/Thursday – WARREN BORDERS
Eastside Station/Sunday – JANET MIZOGUCHI
Famous Pub – MIKE STEWART
Friend’s Sports Bar & Grill – CHRIS BYERS
Jeffreys Braselton – RANDALL HALL
Jeffreys/Twisted Tavern – MICHAEL SMITH
Johnnys Hideaway – MIKE STEWART
Loco’s Grill & Pub/Tuesday – PETER HARTLEY
Loco’s Grill & Pub/Thursday – SONYA MILLER
McCray’s Tavern – DANIEL PETTY
Mikes Down Under – TYLER CRANE
Pirate’s Pub/Saturday – WENDY DAVIDSON
Pirate’s Pub/Sunday – DOC HOLLOMON
SoCo/Monday – KAREN BROOKS
SoCo/Tuesday Ring Game – GARY GRIFFIN, JR.
SoCo/Wednesday – KEVIN CARWILE
SoCo/Friday – BRIAN FAGAN
SoCo/Saturday – DAVE CARROLL
Sportsline – JR MAYHEW
Sportsline/Marietta – VERNON CHANEY
Stone Creek Tavern/Monday – JR MAYHEW
Stone Creek Tavern/Wednesday – JACK WHITEHEAD
Tilted Kilt – DANIEL PETTY
Tin Roof Cantina – SLEEPY BROWN
Wooden Nickel/Thursday – SCOTT BELL
Wooden Nickel – JEFF PORTER

Daniel Petty
Most Wins In One Season – 17
Fall Season ’10

Daniel Petty has played with the Atlanta Poker Club since April, 2004. In Fall Season ’10, he had an amazing number of wins – 17. The largest number of wins by any player in any season of the APC bringing his total to 36. He also led the Season in points!

How many times a week did you play in Fall Season ’10?
I played four to five times a week.

Players want to know what is your winning strategy?
I changed many different things in my play. Maybe as many as fifteen different things. I worked on patience, chip stack management, and the biggest thing was reducing my tilt factor by 90%. An example: if I had A, K and was called by A, 7 and the 7 hit the board and I lost, I didn’t go on tilt. I know in the long run I’m going to win that nine times out of ten. Every time I played was to play my game the best I could, and even if the results didn’t show it, then I was still happy with my play. And if I played that way consistently then it paid off.

How has your play changed in the last six years?
Its changed in that I focus not only on my play but the other players play. I study and focus on who I’m playing and try to remember how they play.

One of my philosophies in poker is playing every hand…and by that I mean, whether I’m in the hand or not. After I fold, I watch nuanaces of people and how they bet, handle their chips, and this way you will develop tells on other players that will help in other tournaments.

Another philosophy goes along with controlling your tilt. Focus on making the correct decision and don’t worry about the outcome. Don’t let the outcome bother you. If I raise with A, K and a player makes a bad call, you just can’t control other people’s play. If you limp in with Aces and they get cracked, that is your fault. If you raise properly then the outcome is not your fault…the only person that can put me on tilt is myself.

Any advice to new players?
The mistake new players make, and even experienced players, is they play with too much emotion. So, and this goes to the tilt factor, my philosophy is to play with passion and not emotion. Second thing is, a lot of players will play pot odds, and they don’t consider their fold equity. Most players don’t know what fold equity is. That is a huge part of the win factor in a tournament, and that is another reason I did so well this season.

Can you explain what “fold equity” is?
Fold equity is a certain stage of the tournament where the amount you call with doesn’t equal the profitability. You need to wait to have a different opportunity of being the raiser and not the caller. Let’s say the blinds are 200 – 400 and someone raises to 1600. Three players ahead of you call the raise. Depending on your chip stack, that might be too much to invest in pot odds because it is too much of your chip stack and it might be advantageous to fold and wait until you are in position. Then you can raise the limpers to 2100 in a different hand, everyone folds, and you just profited 1600 -1800 in chips. Find situations where you don’t call off your chips hoping you are going to hit a flop, and find situations that you are going to take down the blinds and the limpers and take down the pot. If you limp in and have pot odds and call the raise, and you do that three times in a row and you lose, you will diminish your chip stack. Remember…maximize your ability to control your chip stack and not call off all your chips. What will happen, is a player will base their call on what happened last week, when they lucked out with the worst hand, and this time they will lose. But, if you control your chip stack you won’t be on a short stack and have to shove.

I asked myself how can I change my game so I don’t fall into the same pitfalls and traps that other players do. Whether you have pocket Aces or K, Q suited, a lot of players will value bet when they have limpers. Let’s say you have 1800 in the pot with blinds 200 – 400 and you raise 1200. You will get all those limpers calling your raise because they have pot odds. Now you have a pot of say 6,000. But, same situation, if you have four limpers and you raise to 2400 and you get only one caller your pot is the same size, but you have isolated. You only have to beat one opponent. Players think they are going to value bet and they forget that the other players only think about pot odds and will call, and that is why Aces get cracked so much in this league.

Has any major player influenced your play?
Daniel Negreanu. I admire and like him because of his ability to put players on hands.
To do this myself, when I’m not in a hand, I try to get a players range of hands and based off the continued action in the hand, narrow down their hands to one or two.

Do you have a favorite hand?
I want pocket Aces, and you can’t always win with them, but if you play them right they can be profitable. Any hand, even big pairs, you have to know when their value changes, by the number of players who called and the texture of the board.

How did it feel to have the most wins of any player in any season?
Accomplished more than I thought I could. I always knew my play was good but since I’ve applied myself and worked really hard, I plan on taking it to the next level and going to Tunica and Biloxi and applying what I’ve learned to that arena.

What do you thiink when players say its just free poker and doesn’t matter?
It’s all a mind set. Free poker is a social event, fun and competitive but it is not profitable. That is why I want to take what I’ve learned to the next arena to make it profitable.

Anything else you want to share?
My advice is you can read all the books you want. Until you get out there and get a lot of experience, try different strategies, find what works for you, and then continually self analyze your poker game, you aren’t going to get a lot better. This is a game that takes five minutes to learn and a lifetime to master. In Texas Hold’em, there are 50 different things that you have to do consistently to do very well. When you set your mind to do something, and you put in the hard work, you can achieve more than you think you can.

Daniel Petty is in the Atlanta Poker Club Hall of Fame for the most wins in any season and also for leading in points. Congratulations, Daniel, and you have definitely encouraged a lot of players to take their game to a new level.